Running Bear's September 2022 Coffee Shop


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Good Morning All on this first day of Fall. It's clear and 72°, going back up to 97° again today through Sunday. Overnight lows might drop into the upper 50's around mid-week next week.

Looking at a short weekly grocery store run today, especially since we'll be gone all of next week. But we need a couple of minor items to take with us and there needs to be something here when we get home, strictly non-perishables. Wife wants to have the car washed as well.

Thanks for the comments and likes as always from the progress post of yesterday; Dave B, Tom O, Smudge, Guy, Chad, James, George, Joe, Hughie, Dave (PV), Mikey, Patrick, Tom.

Out in the train shed yesterday, I completed construction of that simple fence around the remainder of the transload facility.
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I don't intend to add gates which keeps it simple. Maybe some other time but probably not. That end is pretty well masked by the structures in front of it, and this represents an era when pilferage wasn't a problem.
Then just for the heck of it, I added graffiti to a pair of freight cars. Disclaimer: I am not a fan of graffiti, but it is a fact of life on railroads. I add it because of the realism.
Two sides of this covered hopper.
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Just one side of this boxcar.
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These are decals from Blair Line. I will weather these cars either this week or when I get back. The boxcar was already started.

Dave B - You posted about grid capacity yesterday. That is going to be one major hurdle coming up. Here in Texas, the grid is already strained as it is in many other states. The wind farm nearby was built but held up for over two years because utilities were unable to negotiate easements for power lines to connect to the grid. I think that the NIMBY attitude is even more prevalent in urban areas which need the infrastructure even more. And right now only .5% of vehicles in Texas are electric. I have honestly never seen a Tesla on the road; I did see one at a charging station down near their plant near Austin.
Louis - South Carolina ain't too far south! If you want real accents, go to Georgia or Arkansas. Texans in urban areas are losing their accents due to the influx all of the New Yorkers and Kalifornians escaping their cages.
Propane in A/C's can work two entirely different ways. It can be used as a refrigerant or it can be used to run a generator or compressor.
Guy - I haven't seen any moon people either. They're probably on Jaz's layout though.
I only mentioned the Blair Line grade crossings because to me, $6 a pair is a lot more economical to me than a few hours of labor. I have made many on my layout from a bag of ties. I do like a challenge and I do hand-make many things that I could buy though.

Time to get moving as there is much to do today.
Every one of you have a great day.
 
Guy, that sure is a pretty crossing! My railroad crossings are pretty crude, but I have seen some out in rural areas not much more than some timbers laying on the ties. The nail holes really work, real nails in there?
Dave - Yep, those will be real nails holding it in place, but, they shouldn't be seen after all is done. I mean to rough it up a-bit today, and stain it. So, it shouldn't be so pretty come tonight. However, the towns people do demand a good smooth crossing, so their front-ends remain intact.

Patrick - If you are working in HO, I would suggest starting with 3/16" material. It's easier to sand off, than put it on.
 
Kind of looking forward to this weekend. My wife has a hobby/small business where she sells flowers and other crafty things from her 1967 Chevy C10. With our daughter's wedding this summer, she hasn't had much opportunity to get the old girl out and stretch her legs. But she has a 2-day event happening this weekend.

Looking forward to people watching for a couple days. Here are a few obligatory pictures of how she sets up:
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Good morning from a chilled Mackinaw Island, Michigan. 44f degrees now heading to low 50’s with the wind chills staying in the 40’s all day.

Willie, Terry is the same way! If we travel the car has to be washed first. Safe travels

Energy, there seems to be a disconnect between the grid and energy companies. If you build a solar farm/wind farm and there is no connection available, build it somewhere else. How hard is that to figure out?

I am starting to miss my workbench and layout. We stay on the island tonight but tomorrow we cross the Bridge and head up to Sault Ste Marie, Mi. We left our passports at home so we cannot cross into Canada. I want to visit the Locks up close and personal. The plan which is subject to minute by minute changes says we will overnight in Watersmeet, Michigan at the casino hotel there tomorrow. Doubtful! I would like after the locks and lunch to check if they are still there, the Ore Docks in Escanaba, Mi. I have checked Google Earth but much of Escanaba along the old docks is pixelated out! I think overnight will be Escanaba. I don’t think we will get farther then that but she who speeds is the driver!
 
On accents, Baltimore is more Southern, than Northern...Y'all are on THAT side of the Mason and Dixon Line. Even the "Connakers" of Slower Lower Delaware are on the OTHER side of the Mason - Dixon Line. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:. Granted, the accent in Bowie, and down in Charles Co and St. Marys Co, is different from Baltimore.
Boris, accents are interesting to say the least. My Hungarian wife once asked me where I was from. I told her, "Baltimore, born and raised. I have never lived more than eleven miles from where I lived when I was born". She told me "your accent sounds different from others in Baltimore, you sound more like New York". (My wife loves NY) Others have told me something similar. But I'm Baltimore, through and through, Hon and proud of it!
The lady who raised me was from White Plains, NY. I guess she had some influance on me. She was born in 1899 and her husband was born in Baltimore 1898. He was raised in St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys. They were Nanny and Jack to me. In my heart they were and always will be my parents. They raised me as their own, they spent many hours with me. They taught me to read, math, manors and so much more. Kids in school used to joke with me about my accent and some of the words and phrases I used. Out of date to say the least. I still use many of them.
I owe everything I am to them. The good things that is ;) the rest i picked up on my own.

In my many years as a salesman, I have covered from Hagerstown, MD - York, PA - Wilmington, DE to Mannases, VA and many points in between. I can't begin to count the number of accents I have heard. Many are only small variations, but still different.
The worse my hearing gets the less I notice them.
 
Louis - South Carolina ain't too far south! If you want real accents, go to Georgia or Arkansas. Texans in urban areas are losing their accents due to the influx all of the New Yorkers and Kalifornians escaping their cages
I don't want to go any further south, It's too hot and humid for me.
Baltimore can be too hot and humid for me!
I'm looking forward to winter.
.Propane in A/C's can work two entirely different ways. It can be used as a refrigerant or it can be used to run a generator or compressor.
Thank you, I have no idea. I never saw or heard a generator. I never had time to look or ask him. I was always in a hurry to get to the next stop.
Who knew delivering propane could keep you so busy?
He sure did use a lot of propane in the summer!
 
Jeff - love the '67 Chev.

TomO - Ore docs in Ashland WI partly converted to a walkway, I think, however there are several visible (somewhat ancient) from US 2 in East Superior (WI), not to mention the super active one in Duluth.

Willie - Nice job on the graffiti

We were in Arkansas this spring, near Dardanelle, and barely noticed their accent, however while travelling in Missouri the accents were pretty thick, funny that.

I noticed on an internet story Arkansas was one of the least friendly states. We left a bunch of money there and also noticed that they did not seem appreciative of our business. Rarely got a thank you except at the Pancake House that we ate at where they were super friendly. Wife reminded me that Sarah Huckabee Sanders is from Arkansas, but so is Bill Clinton.
 
Some Controversy for Boris: Diesels Suck!!! Steam Forever!!!! ;)

BBL
If you build a solar farm/wind farm and there is no connection available, build it somewhere else. How hard is that to figure out?
Patrick...no they don't, they stink to some extent, but...Steam is dirty, very dirty. Back in 1983 or so, one of the Extra Firemen, received a call to work a Passenger Extra. Showed up in a white shirt, 3 pc suit and dress shoes, just to find his engine was an ex CP 4-6-2....I think possibly the same one now running excursions on the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern....in any event, he was not pleased to find out he was tasked to maintain steam. So much for the shirt and suit...
Having cab time on US Army steam during my active duty, and ex Reading steam on the Freedom Train, I'll stick with Electrics first, then diesel over steam. Cannot stay clean on the steamers. ;)

Tom O: Yeah! How could someone go through all the expense of building the Solar Farm, without lining up a connection and rate....???

Louis: Baltimore, is no more humid than Jersey. This morning started out Humid, and stayed that way until about an hour ago, when fall air, imported all the way from Guy's neighborhood, came crashing through.

Received a "funds" solicitation, e-mail, from the Metropolitan PBS TV Station Group, [WNET 13, WLIW 21 and NJ Public TV], Their request which managed, to include every Politically Correct Buzz word, and Every "afflicted" special group acronym , is looking for donations beginning at $2500,00 so that they may follow their goals, (agenda?). Needless to say, they were cancelled. Guess I do not fit in with their desired demographics for viewer / contributor.

I guess I have stirred the pot enough for this afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your Friday.
 
Afternoon All,

Done running errands and doing chores. The resistors and dwarf signal just came in. The Dwarf is AWESOME :D. It is 3D printed. It has a remote where you can select the aspect you want or it has a random feature where the aspect changes every 30 seconds. Cost was about $124 shipped. Tomorrow I hope to finish soldering the resistors and I have to be at the school for book fair break down.

Joe- One of the reasons I quit FB almost 2 years ago.

Willie- I should of realized Walthers made fencing, they make everything else or the Chinese do. Great layout scenes.

Dave- Good luck with the steamer. Great layout shots.

Patrick- We have a mixed family here so we should be able to accept each others choices in MRR'ing😂. But what about the sickos that like both steam and diesel.😂😂😂.

Guy- I applaud your effort on the road crossings. The one in place looks great.

Jeff- Nice family photo.

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I hope everyone has a good night.
 
Good afternoon eveyone!

I attended a Mass this morning at the Church/school that my baby sister taught at. My family was invited to attend as the children of the school performed the memorial services for Elizabeth (my sister who passed away on 8-30-22 at the age of 51). They did a beautiful job and it was very moving and touching. It made me proud to see the impact that my sister had on the children's lives as their teacher and mentor. My parents were moved as well. It was just nice.

So this afternoon I am chilling a little bit and doing some on line work as well. It is a rainy and gloomy day at best. I did get the front yard and the back of my property mowed on the hill yesterday. I still have to mow the fenced in portion of the back yard but that will be this weekend I think when it drys up. I took a break to pick up the mail that the USPS and FedEx folks left me this morning. So here is a snap shot of my loot. Some are from Ebay and FB Marketplace.

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The (2) locomotives are part of the consist that were used for the 4141 Bush funeral train that includes EMD SD70ACe Union Pacific #4141 and EMD SD70ACe Union Pacific #9096. I got these as a bundle deal. I already have unit #4141 in DCC and LEDs but no sound. So to get this as a replacement one with sound worked out for me in this deal. I will be selling the unit with no sound on ebay but if anyone is interested PM me... I will give ya'll 1st crack at it.

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I will post the other goodies on the RPO thread as there is a lot to share.

The cool find and awesome piece of equipment I got was the DCC controlled Bachmann Spectrum 87901 Maintenance of Way Vehicles- Self Propelled (DCC) Ballast Regulator. I will be adding Union Pacific details (shield & lettering) then I may have it weathered etc. I cannot wait to put together my MOW work trains with all my ballast hoppers, rail tie gondolas, my John Deere 120D excavator rail tie remover/installer from OTM and such. It will be awesome.


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Anyways I still have more "stuff" on the way from the results of my past weekend MRR spending therapy.

In other news I ordered a new John Deere tractor, 1025R. I shoud have by November.....
The attachments that I will have with it will be the 260B backhoe, the 120 front end loader, quick change 60D drive over belly mower, quick change 48" forks, wheel weights, quick change 72" snow plow and 60" garden tiller. Also the 3 point hitch system. I will later get the post hole auger attachment for the rear PTO. There is a PTO on the front and rear as well as the mid section for the belly mower.

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That's all the news for now. I gotta do a couple of things. I will be back to upload my loot and other goodies on the RPO.

Ya'll have a good one.
 
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Curt, the SLCR # 7 runs smooth, quiet, however does not do the slow speeds. It is on the layout cause it looks cool, IMO.
NP 328, on the other hand, really pulls and has some cool features, like the chugging. SEE THE VIDEO

With the diesel vs steamer talk thought I would share this new video, only 38 seconds but nary a dull moment:


Hard not to have fun with this stuff!!!
 
Curt, the SLCR # 7 runs smooth, quiet, however does not do the slow speeds. It is on the layout cause it looks cool, IMO.
NP 328, on the other hand, really pulls and has some cool features, like the chugging. SEE THE VIDEO

With the diesel vs steamer talk thought I would share this new video, only 38 seconds but nary a dull moment:


Hard not to have fun with this stuff!!!
Is that NP 328 an original Varney? Absolutely cool watching it go.
 
Good afternoon eveyone!

I attended a Mass this morning at the Church/school that my baby sister taught at. My family was invited to attend as the children of the school performed the memorial services for Elizabeth (my sister who passed away on 8-30-22 at the age of 51). They did a beautiful job and it was very moving and touching. It made me proud to see the impact that my sister had on the children's lives as their teacher and mentor. My parents were moved as well. It was just nice.

So this afternoon I am chilling a little bit and doing some on line work as well. It is a rainy and gloomy day at best. I did get the front yard and the back of my property mowed on the hill yesterday. I still have to mow the fenced in portion of the back yard but that will be this weekend I think when it drys up. I took a break to pick up the mail that the USPS and FedEx folks left me this morning. So here is a snap shot of my loot. Some are from Ebay and FB Marketplace.

View attachment 152112

The (2) locomotives are part of the consist that were used for the 4141 Bush funeral train that includes EMD SD70ACe Union Pacific #4141 and EMD SD70ACe Union Pacific #9096. I got these as a bundle deal. I already have unit #4141 in DCC and LEDs but no sound. So to get this as a replacement one with sound worked out for me in this deal. I will be selling the unit with no sound on ebay but if anyone is interested PM me... I will give ya'll 1st crack at it.

View attachment 152129


View attachment 152113View attachment 152114

I will post the other goodies on the RPO thread as there is a lot to share.

The cool find and awesome piece of equipment I got was the DCC controlled Bachmann Spectrum 87901 Maintenance of Way Vehicles- Self Propelled (DCC) Ballast Regulator. I will be adding Union Pacific details (shield & lettering) then I may have it weathered etc. I cannot wait to put together my MOW work trains with all my ballast hoppers, rail tie gondolas, my John Deere 120D excavator rail tie remover/installer from OTM and such. It will be awesome.


View attachment 152117View attachment 152118View attachment 152120



View attachment 152115View attachment 152116

Anyways I still have more "stuff" on the way from the results of my past weekend MRR spending therapy.

In other news I ordered a new John Deere tractor, 1025R. I shoud have by November.....
The attachments that I will have with it will be the 260B backhoe, the 120 front end loader, quick change 60D drive over belly mower, quick change 48" forks, wheel weights, quick change 72" snow plow and 60" garden tiller. Also the 3 point hitch system. I will later get the post hole auger attachment for the rear PTO. There is a PTO on the front and rear as well as the mid section for the belly mower.

View attachment 152123

That's all the news for now. I gotta do a couple of things. I will be back to upload my loot and other goodies on the RPO.

Ya'll have a good one.
James, congrats on the tractor! It looks similar to mine but yours is a better color...........
Good afternoon eveyone!

I attended a Mass this morning at the Church/school that my baby sister taught at. My family was invited to attend as the children of the school performed the memorial services for Elizabeth (my sister who passed away on 8-30-22 at the age of 51). They did a beautiful job and it was very moving and touching. It made me proud to see the impact that my sister had on the children's lives as their teacher and mentor. My parents were moved as well. It was just nice.

So this afternoon I am chilling a little bit and doing some on line work as well. It is a rainy and gloomy day at best. I did get the front yard and the back of my property mowed on the hill yesterday. I still have to mow the fenced in portion of the back yard but that will be this weekend I think when it drys up. I took a break to pick up the mail that the USPS and FedEx folks left me this morning. So here is a snap shot of my loot. Some are from Ebay and FB Marketplace.

View attachment 152112

The (2) locomotives are part of the consist that were used for the 4141 Bush funeral train that includes EMD SD70ACe Union Pacific #4141 and EMD SD70ACe Union Pacific #9096. I got these as a bundle deal. I already have unit #4141 in DCC and LEDs but no sound. So to get this as a replacement one with sound worked out for me in this deal. I will be selling the unit with no sound on ebay but if anyone is interested PM me... I will give ya'll 1st crack at it.

View attachment 152129


View attachment 152113View attachment 152114

I will post the other goodies on the RPO thread as there is a lot to share.

The cool find and awesome piece of equipment I got was the DCC controlled Bachmann Spectrum 87901 Maintenance of Way Vehicles- Self Propelled (DCC) Ballast Regulator. I will be adding Union Pacific details (shield & lettering) then I may have it weathered etc. I cannot wait to put together my MOW work trains with all my ballast hoppers, rail tie gondolas, my John Deere 120D excavator rail tie remover/installer from OTM and such. It will be awesome.


View attachment 152117View attachment 152118View attachment 152120



View attachment 152115View attachment 152116

Anyways I still have more "stuff" on the way from the results of my past weekend MRR spending therapy.

In other news I ordered a new John Deere tractor, 1025R. I shoud have by November.....
The attachments that I will have with it will be the 260B backhoe, the 120 front end loader, quick change 60D drive over belly mower, quick change 48" forks, wheel weights, quick change 72" snow plow and 60" garden tiller. Also the 3 point hitch system. I will later get the post hole auger attachment for the rear PTO. There is a PTO on the front and rear as well as the mid section for the belly mower.

View attachment 152123

That's all the news for now. I gotta do a couple of things. I will be back to upload my loot and other goodies on the RPO.

Ya'll have a good one.
James, congrats on the tractor! It looks somewhat similar to mine! They are sure a backsaver!!
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Evening all,

Managed the full day, but too tired to cook, so stopped and got sonic chili cheese coneys.. They were on sale for a buck each.

Louis: Beginning to think I may have restarted too early, but you gotta do what you can.

Jeff: Love the '67. Beautiful truck.

Hey!! I resemble those sicko's who love steam and diesels!!!! Boris sounded upset there wasn't any train controversy, so why not burn the whole thing down!!🤣🤣

Have a good night guys!
 
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